General News
Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
Prosperty is a revolutionary digital-first Real Estate platform (PropTech) offering integrated end to end tech-enabled services to property portfolio investors and individuals that makes selling, buying, renting and managing property simple, contactless, transparent, and efficient for all.
The National Herald: Tell us briefly how Prosperty was born and what exactly does Prosperty do?
Antonis Markopoulos: We started Prosperty with the idea of offering the first marketplace out there for someone to easily search verified listings. Prosperty’s concept revolves around a platform that provides an integrated solution for a customer trying to buy an asset in Greece.
We offer confidence and convenience as owners and buyers or tenants can check the status of their transaction 24 hours a day, while real-time data is provided regarding the demand for each property. It is platform that offers a digital and contactless experience, fully compatible with the pandemic situation, and which includes online viewings, offers, digital contracts, and digital signatures and payments, in order to speed up the processes and to eliminate bureaucracy.
In addition, the negotiation is done without an intermediary and for rentals the commission is 0%. The property is captured exactly on the photographic material as drones and other modern means are used, while the material is delivered to the customer in just 48 hours. Data and media are provided for a complete and representative image of the property to save time and avoid unnecessary visits that do not benefit anyone
Prosperty disrupts a very traditional market and transforms real estate, leveraging its proprietary technology, streamlined process automation, and fully digitized workflows, combined with integrated tech-enabled end to end services (legal, technical, notarial, etc.)
TNH: Is this the right time to invest in Greece – specifically in Real Estate.
Antonis Markopoulos: There is great momentum in the real estate market in Greece, which is recovering after the financial crisis and the property value depreciation that lasted for 10 years. From a macroeconomic perspective, but also from a microeconomic standpoint, there is an opportunity for investing in real estate in Greece. Athens remains, if not the cheapest, one of the cheapest capitals in the EU. Even if you see that the prices are rising, Athens remains one of the cheapest. There are a lot of institutional investors that have already come or they are coming to Greece to invest heavily, not only targeting commercial assets but also residential types of assets. There is a huge demand out there for recently renovated or recently built properties, and there is not enough supply.
Therefore, it is better for anyone who managed to get a nice property to renovate it or invest in it. We also want to let people know that there have been a lot of initiatives from the government to help speed up the process and make it much more transparent. We strongly believe that it’s the right time for anyone to invest in Greece and the results are going to be visible in the near future.
After a decade of crisis, the economy in Greece is rebounding and has growth momentum supported by the political stability that comes from a single-party majority and a pro-business government. It is creating an attractive environment for investments that will soon be supported by an expected upgrade in the country’s investment climate and attractiveness.
TNH: How does Prosperty help?
Antonis Markopoulos: We will try to make this whole experience more transparent, and secure for people who are willing to buy or even buy and manage the assets and rentals. Prosperty’s research reveals that Greek Real Estate has the strongest growth rate in all of Europe, offering considerable margins for growth in the coming years.
The Greek real estate market started growing at a slow pace and is now growing simultaneously with a robust economy at a growth rate of 6%. Such strong growth is expected to continue for years. This is where Prosperty enters the process, to help you find the right property at the right price. We have valuable data and properties that are carefully verified before posting them on the platform. We strongly believe that it’s the right time for anyone to invest in Greece. The results start appearing soon after investment.
Buyers are looking for properties that are properly priced, usually in good condition, and in areas of commercial interest, for both home ownership and investment purposes.
At Prosperty, we do not only offer a multitude of digital services that highlights each property with the most effective way (certified data, 3D drone), but at the same time we promote a large number of channels, networks and customers in Greece and abroad, and potential digital trading through our platform.
TNH: Can you tell us something about the financing options for Diaspora Hellenes, including Greek government or EU funding?
Antonis Markopoulos: Greek banks can now provide mortgages to non-EU residents and therefore to U.S. residents to buy, repair or build a home.
Prosperty in cooperation with all Greek banks undertakes the entire bureaucratic process of finding and issuing and disbursing a mortgage loan on your behalf at no charge. Prosperty not only finds you the property of your dreams but offers you a host of digital services, highlighting in the most effective way for each property
We provide support and full use of digital tools. In addition, potential buyers can browse real estate through digital imaging tour, read detailed and certified data and negotiate online offers directly with the owner. Finally, the buyer can assign to our company all the tasks needed and we perform all the required actions.
TNH: Are there many steps involved in buying or selling a property from abroad? How does Prosperty deal with the process?
Antonis Markopoulos: First, sellers complete the property file with necessary documents (contracts, licenses, etc.). Then the professional brokers undertake the promotion of the property, promoting it both in Greece and abroad, using modern technological means and maximizing its visibility. In addition, the professional broker advises a realistic asking price based on current market conditions.
TNH: Is it possible for Greek-Americans to buy a property with Golden Visa?
Antonis Markopoulos: Yes. We also offer clear step-by-step support services for the Golden Visa applicants, taking into account the broadest spectrum of conditions asked for, such as finding a suitable property with investment prospects and undertaking all the actions required for appraisal and acquisition of a property.
The Golden Visa process has matured and now attracts interest from various foreign countries (China, Arab countries, America) which have more targeted and specific requirements, both in terms of real estate and the services they will receive.
Prosperty offers comprehensive support services for those interested in Golden Visas that extend to the full range of their needs such as finding suitable property with an investment hue, discovering all the actions required to evaluate and obtain a property, and for their ongoing support. Those interested have the opportunity to browse the properties through digital virtual tour imaging, to read detailed and certified data, and to make an online offer directly to the owner and finally to entrust to Prosperty the execution of all required actions.
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
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